Shaft retainer key



Jan- 2, 19 o. F. KNOELL ET AL SHAFT RETAINER KEY Filed June 29, 1960 I/ANA IN VE N T095 0504/? F KNOELL and STE/V P. LU/VDSKOG By W1? M Attorney United States Patent 3,015,507 SHAFT RETAINER KEY Oscar F. Knoell, Center Township, Lake County, and

Sten P. Lundskog, Cedar Creek Township, Lake County, Ind., assignors to United States Steel Corporation, a

corporation of New Jersey Filed June 29, 1960, Ser. No. 39,646 1 Claim. (Cl. 287-20) The present invention relates generally to locking means for securing a shaft and the like and more particularly has as its primary object the provision of an improved keeper key for locking a shaft between two parallel structures especially suitable for securing a sheave shaft or pin in a lift-hook block.

This and other objects will become more apparent after referring to the following specification and attached drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a front elevational view of a lift-hook block having the apparatus of the invention installed thereon;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged detail partial View of FIG- RUE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a partial end view of the block of FIG- URE 1; and

FIGURE 4 is a side elevational View of the keeper key of the invention showing the tongues thereof undeformed.

Referring more particularly to the drawings reference numeral 2 designates a lift-hook block carrying a sheave shaft or pin 4 extending transversely therethrough with an end portion of the shaft projecting outwardly of the block. As best shown in FIGURE 2, the projecting end portion of the shaft is provided with a slot 6 on the underside thereof extending transversely of the shaft.

A guide member 8 in the form of a flat rectangular plate is welded or otherwise fixedly attached to the side plate of the block 2 spaced below the projecting end of shaft 4. The top edge 10 of the guide member 8 is chamfered, as best shown in FIGURE 2 for a purpose which will become apparent.

A locking plate 12 is welded or otherwise fixedly mounted on the side plate of the block on one side of the projecting end of the shaft and the guide member 8, as best shown in FIGURES 1 and 2. The end of plate 12 facing toward the projecting end of the shaft 4 and the guide member 8 is provided with upper and lower curved surfaces 14 and 16, respectively, and a longitudinally extending slot 18 between the surfaces 14 and 16. The slot is substantially in line with the center line of the space Eetvgeen the shaft 4 and the upper edge of the guide mem- The keeper key of the invention is designated generally by reference numeral 20 and consists of a fiat plate including a substantially rectangularly shaped main body portion 22 having a pair of spaced tongues 24 projecting Patented Jan. 2, 1962 "ice from one end. The keeper key is chamfered along its bottom edge 26 and has a slight horizontal taper extending from its rearward end to the tongues 24.

To lock the shaft 4 in position, the keeper key 20 is driven between the guide member 8 and the projecting end of the shaft with the top edge of the key fitted in the slot 6 and the tongues 24 extending toward the locking plate 12. As the keeper key is thus driven the tongues 24 engage the curved surfaces 14 and 16 and are deformed and spread apart thereby as the keeper key advances to the locking position shown in FIGURES 1 and 2.

The complementary chamfered edges 10 and 26 of the guide member 8 and keeper key 20, respectively, together with the slight lengthwise taper of the key and the deformed tongues 24 provide a positive shaft locking means which can be easily installed or removed.

The keeper key can be easily removed from locking position by engaging the forward edge of the key with an impact tool through the slot 18 in the locking plate and driving the key out of the space between the shaft and the guide member.

If desired, the locking plate 12 can be omitted and the tongues deformed by striking with a hammer or the like after the key has been driven into locking position.

It will be noted that although the apparatus of the invention has been described in relation with a lift-hook block its use is not restricted thereto.

While one embodiment of our invention has been shown and described, it will be apparent that other adaptations and modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the following claim.

We claim:

Means for securing a shaft having a transverse slot therein relative to a structure in which the shaft is installed which compirses a guide member fixed to said structure adjacent said shaft, a key slidably disposed on said guide member and fitted in said slot, one end of said key having a tongue deformable to prevent removal of said key, and an abutment on said structure disposed in line with the longitudinal center line of the space between said shaft and said guide member, said abutment being adapted to be engaged by said tongue on insertion of said key in said space, said abutment having a slot therein for admitting a tool to engage said one end of said key.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNlTED STATES PATENTS 166,229 Spencer Aug. 3, 1875 289,430 Maxwell Dec. 4, 1883 1,347,211 Crosby July 20, 1920 1,368,989 Lee Feb. 15, 1921 2,512,690 Smith et a1. a..- June 27, 1950 

